August 16–17, 2025 | Forest Lake Sportsmen’s Club – Forest Lake, MN
The Gosh Darn Jeff Kirkwold Shotgun Qualifier came back strong this year with a new identity and a lot on the line. Once a 3-Gun shootoff format, the match has fully transitioned into a USPSA Level 2 shotgun-only event, cementing its place as one of the six qualifiers for Team USA selection for the 2026 IPSC World Shoot.
This was the fifth round in the six-match series, and with only Grand Island, Nebraska left on the calendar, the Minnesota match carried serious weight for shooters chasing team slots.
Friday night and early Saturday morning brought thunderstorms across Forest Lake, pushing back the Saturday start time by an hour. Once the skies cleared, the rest of the weekend left competitors with heavy humidity and sticky heat that added an extra layer of challenge.
Despite the rough start, staff kept the match running smooth across 12 stages. Squads were tested on every skill in the shotgun playbook; from slug precision to knowing their patterns on both buckshot and birdshot while navigating tight no-shoot target presentations.
One of the traditions carried over from the original Jeff Kirkwold Memorial format is the shoot-off. This year, it happened Saturday night under the lights on the skeet fields near the clubhouse. A cookout, beer garden, and live commentary turned it into a community centerpiece.
Action Gunner helped stream the shoot-off live, bringing in commentary from Adam Maxwell and Kevin Harrington. Roughly 30 shooters threw down for fun and bragging rights, with a surprise cash purse sweetening the pot thanks to a private donor. Targets were tougher than expected; full-choke steel knockdowns under the lights made for some exciting runs.
This match was about cementing or breaking into the top four slots for Team USA in Open, Modified, Standard, and Standard Manual. With only one qualifier left, the Minnesota results created some serious shakeups.
Open continues to be a slugfest between Varick Beise and Jon Wiedell. Wiedell edged Beise in Minnesota with a 100-point run, while Beise took 99.086. Both are mathematically locked for the team at this point.
Behind them, Brian Nelson made waves by jumping into third overall after putting up a strong 91.4% score – his third counting run of the season. That bumped Scott Greene and Joe Farewell down into the bubble zone, where they’ll have to deliver in Nebraska to lock a slot.
Open Top 5 after Minnesota:
AJ Anthony and Taylor Ohlhausen continue to sit firmly on top, but Minnesota saw the race for third and fourth tighten. Sam Larkin and Connor Fryburger hold those spots, while Dillen Easley and Hunter Andras are close behind.
Notably, Lena Miculek signed up late, shot half the match before leaving due to a family emergency, and posted a non-threshold score. With two strong 96s earlier in the season, she’ll need Nebraska to lock her place in the conversation.
Modified Top 5 after Minnesota:
Nate Staskiewicz didn’t need Minnesota; he’s already locked. Behind him, Jeremy Lightner, Matt Martini, and Evan Craig all sit in qualifying range, but only by a hair. JK Khan is just fractions behind Craig, making Nebraska a must-watch.
Standard Top 5 after Minnesota:
Pump-gun nation delivered some of the most spirited competition of the weekend. Ross Haney continues to dominate with a perfect 300. Behind him, Minnesota local Sam Rydberg threw down a 99.85% run after allegedly camping at the range in his car (one of the more unique stories of the weekend).
Evan Nichols, who left Modified early in the season to run pump, is now sitting third. Tennille Chidester and Travis Vogel are still in contention, but need big performances in Nebraska to stay in the hunt.
Standard Manual Top 5 after Minnesota:
One behind-the-scenes storyline was a quiet ammo inspection effort. With IPSC rules banning long-range wad buckshot (like Federal Flight Control), staff checked competitor ammo on the designated buckshot stage. Several shooters were caught running restricted shells—some knowingly, others unknowingly; and scores were adjusted accordingly.
It was a reminder: if you’re chasing a World Shoot slot, know your gear inside and out.
This year’s Jeff Kirkwold event showed why it’s become such a fixture: competitive stages, a community-first atmosphere, and high stakes for shooters with their eyes set on Greece in 2026. With only one qualifier left, Nebraska is shaping up to be a make-or-break event for the bubble shooters.
For everyone else, the Minnesota match was another chance to honor Jeff Kirkwold’s legacy – celebrating a life dedicated to competition, camaraderie, and the love of shooting sports.
What’s Next: The sixth and final IPSC Shotgun Qualifier will be held at the Hornady Range in Grand Island, Nebraska this September. Expect fireworks.
